Museum’s tar sands funding pollutes Snow exhibit, says snowperson

Posted by Daniel Cayley-Daoust18.20sc on December 06, 2013

(Le français suit)Snowpeople are now distancing themselves from controversial tar sands funding of the Museum of Civilisation from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). This morning a Snowperson protested the funding arrangement with a sign saying ‘CAPP pollutes snow’.

The Council of Canadians, Ecology Ottawa, and the Polaris Institute organized the action to raise concerns about the $1 million contribution to the museum from CAPP, and were on site sharing leaflets with museum visitors. The organizations argue that while CAPP includes tar sands producers that literally pollute snow, air and waterways in Alberta, increased corporate sponsorship threatens to pollute precious cultural institutions like the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

“We’re concerned that the Canadian Association of Petroleum Polluters and their members are using this sponsorship to white-wash their dirty tar sands projects,” said Ben Powless, a Pipeline Community Organizer with Ecology Ottawa. “Here in Ottawa we’re opposed to TransCanada's Energy East pipeline, which threatens our waterways and health the same way CAPP’s other activities are impacting communities in Alberta.”

CAPP member Imperial Oil made headlines in 2011 when documents revealed they had exerted pressure to change energy exhibit content at the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology that they felt treated the industry to negatively.

“Tar sands producers are desperately seeking the social licence that partnerships with prestigious cultural institutions can bring,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “Frosty is a friendly reminder that money can’t erase the destruction happening at the hands of CAPP members.”

The Museum of Civilization, located on the shores of the Ottawa River, part of the Rideau River ecosystem under threat by TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline.